Textile warp preparing apparatus



R. A. MUTTER ETAL TEXTILE WARP PREPARING APPARATUS Dec. 15, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1963 Dec. 15, 1964 R. A. MUTTER ETAL TEXTILE} WARP PREPARING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jazz 3, 1963 INVENTORS ROBERTA-MUTTER DONALD O- SBEPHERD AIF RNEY Dec. 1954 R. A. MUTTER ETAL 3,160,942

TEXTILE WARP PREPARING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 VEN s ROB TA.TMOU TE DONALD o-sne u A ORNEY 1964 R. A. MUTTER ETAL 60,

TEXTILE WARP PREPARING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ROBERT A. M UTTER DONALD 0- SHEPHERD ATT N EY 1964 R. A. MUTTER ETAL 3,

TEXTILE WARP PREPARING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS ROBERT A. MUTTER ONALD O SHEPHERD AT RNEY Dec- 15, 19 R. A. MUTTER ETAL TEXTILE WARP PREPARING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 5, 1963 ORNEY United States Patent 3,169,942 TEXTILE WARP PREPARING APPARATUS Robert A. Mutter, Hawthorne, N.J., and Donald 0.

Shepherd, Clover, .C., assiguors, by mesne assignments, to Kidde, Walter 8: Company, Inc, Believille,

N.J., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 249,212 12 Claims. (1. 28-32) The present invention relates to textile warp preparing apparatus, and more particularly, to an improved head section or take-up end .of slashing or beaming apparatus and the like.

Slashers generally comprise a section for unwinding or letting-01f a warp of yarn ends, a section for sizing or otherwise treating the warp, a section for drying the warp, and a head or take-up section for re-winding the warp on a beam. The width of the warp may vary depending on the length of the beam on which the warp is re-wound, whereby the entire width of the slasher or only a portion thereof may be utilized. When less than the entire width of the slasher is required to handle the warp, it is desirable to space the warp equidistantly from the sides of the slasher which necessitates laterally shifting and aligning the warp take-up beam with the middle of the slasher. While various arrangements heretofore have been devised for so shifting the take-up, none has been entirely satisfactory for one or more reasons.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for shifting the beam with respect to the warp of textile warp preparing apparatus Another object is to provide such an arrangement which accurately aligns the beam with the middle of the apparatus in a convenient manner.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which facilitates chucking and unchucking of the beam without disturbing the alignment thereof.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which facilitates shifting the beam without disturbing the drive means for the beam.

A further object is to provide such an arrangement which is simple and economical in construction and can be applied to newly built warp preparing apparatus as well as such apparatus already in the field.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the warp take-up section of a warp preparing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the warp-take-up section shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 on FIG. 4.

Ti FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6-6 on FIG. 2.

FIG; 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 on FIG. 6.

General Description Referring now to the drawings in detail, apparatus is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which generally com-prises a pair of spaced apart frame members 10 at the sides of a slasher, for example, slide means 11 mounted on and between the frame members, a head carriage 12 and a tail carriage 14 slidably mounted on the slide means and each having means 15 for rotatably supporting one end of a beam B for winding up a warp of yarn ends, power driven means 16 for the head carriage for effecting rotation of the head carriage beam supporting means, motor driven means 17 for siumultaneously moving the carriages either towards or away from each other to vary the distance therebetween, whereby the carriages can accommodate beams of various lengths, and manually operable mechanism 13 on the tail carriage for moving the tail carriage independently of the head carriage to facilitate chucking and dofling of the beam.

The Slide and Carriage Moving Motor Driven Means As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the slide means 11 comprise a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending rods 19 and 2t mounted at their ends on the frame members 10. The rod 19 is above the rod 20, and the rod 20 extends forwardly of the rod 19.

The carriage moving motor driven means 17 generally comprise horizontally extending screw threaded rod means 21 between the slide rods 19 and 20, a nut 22 on the head carriage 12 and a nut 24 on the tail carriage 14 cooperating with the screw rod means 21 as about to be described, a reversible motor 25 for'eflecting rotation of the screw rod means 21 in either direction, and bracket means 26 secured to the slide rods 19 and 20 for supporting the screw rod means 21.

The bracket means 26 include a pair of spaced apart members 27 having their ends secured to the middle of these rods and having a bearing 28 between the ends thereof in which the screw rod means 21 are journalled for rotation.

The screw rod means 21 includes a left hand threaded portion29 at the left end thereof (FIG. 2) for cooperation with a left hand threaded nut such as the nut 22 on the head carriage, and right hand threaded portion 30 at the right end thereof (FIG. 2) for cooperation with a right hand threaded nut such as the nut 24 on the tail carriage. Preferably, the threaded portions 29 and 30 are provided on separate rod members 31 and 32, respectively, which rod members are coupled for rotation with each other by a sleeve 34 between the bracket members 27.

The motor 25 is mounted on a bracket 35 secured to the slide rod 19 adjacent one of the bracket members 27, and is adapted to effect rotation of the screw rod means 21 by a sprocket 36 on the drive shaft of the motor, a sprocket 37 on the screw rod 32, and a chain 38 for causing the sprocket 36 to drive the sprocket 37.

Preferably, a cradle 39 (FIG. 1) has inner end connected between the bracket members 27 and has its outer end disposed on the floor forwardly of the slide rod 20. The outer end is provided with rollers for supporting a cylinder (not shown) which acts as a press roll for contacting the warp after being wound on the beam so as to compress and smoothen the yarn on the beam.

The Head Carriage As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the head carriage 12 comprises a base 40 having lugs 41 at the ends thereof for slidably receiving the slide rods 19 and 20 and having the nut 22 mounted thereon on fixed position (FIG. 5), and a casing 42 secured to the base 40 for housing the drive means 16 and for rotatably mounting the beam support means 15'.

The casing 42, as shown in FIG. 5, includes a bearing section 44 having a spindle 45 journalled for rotation therein to which the beam support means 15 is secured for rotation therewith, and a bearing section 46 having a sleeve 47 journalled for rotation therein to which a driving element 4-8 of the drive means 16 is secured for rotation therewith.

The drive means 16 include a shft 49 driven by the main drive of the apparatus through suitable driving connections (not shown), the sleeve 47 which is secured to the shaft 49 for rotation therewith, the driving element 48 which may be a sprocket, a driven element 50 such as a sprocket secured to the spindle 45 for rotation therewith, a chain 51 for causing the sprocket 43 to drive the sprocket 50, and an idler sprocket 52 for taking up slack in the chain 51.

In order to facilitate moving the head carriage laterally to the drive means 17 without disturbing the driving connection between the shaft 4? and the sleeve 47, interengaging cooperating means are provided which include an elongate axially extending slot, groove or keyway 54 on the drive shaft 49 and a key 55 rotatable with the sleeve 47 and slidably disposed in the slot 54.

The T ail Carriage As shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the tail carriage 1 comprises a base 56 having lugs 57 at the ends thereof for slidably receiving the slide rods 19 and 20 and having the nut 24 releasably secured thereon in the manner about to be described, and a casing 58 formed with the base 56 for housing and rotatably mounting'the beam support means 15. I

In order to move the tail carriage Min and out of chucking position with respect to the beam B independently of moving the head carriage 12, the nut 24 is mounted for rotation on the tail carriage base 56 and provision is made for releasably locking the nut 24 against rotation when simultaneous movement of the carriages is desired. To accomplish the foregoing, the mechanism 18 includes a crank 59 rotatably mounted on the casing, a drive ele ment such as a sprocket 66 secured to the crank'for rota tion therewith, a driven element such as a sprocket 61 secured to the nut 24 for rotation therewith, a chain 62 for causing the sprocket 6th to drive the sprocket 61, an idler sprocket 64 for taking up slack in the chain 62, and

port means. An empty beam is now positioned between support means, and the crank 59 is turned in the opposite direction to cause the nut 24 to rotate and move the tail carriage inwardly or towards the head carriage while guiding the ends of the beam for support by the means 15. The nut 24 is locked again and the slasher can now be operated again.

During the doffing'of the beams as just described, the head carriage remains in its adjusted position whereby the second beam'is automatically centered between the sides of theslasher.

Also, in opening the carriages in preparation for dofiing a beam, the switch 71 may be used to control the motor so that the carriages open equidistantly. 'After that beam has been removed and an empty beam has been put into position, the motor 25 is again controlled to close the carriages equidistantly. In this manner, when a'subsequent beam of the same size as that previously used is put between the carriages, it is automatically centered with respect to the warp sheet.

The tail carriage 14 can be operated manually to prov vide side adjustment for shifting of the beam off-centerv or a latching arrangement for restraining the nutZd against rotation.

This arrangement, as shown herein byway 59 and the sprocket 6t and having radial detent means of example, includes a disc 65 mounted for rotation with the crank such as circumferentially spaced slots 66 therein; a manually movable member such as a lever 67 pivotally mounted at 68 having a latch element such as a projection 69 at the inner end thereof adapted to extend into the slots 66, and a spring 70 for urging the projection towards the slot and retaining the same therein. The latch is adapted to be rendered ineffective by pressing down on the free end of the lever while rotating the crank in either direction.

The casing 58 also may have a switch 71 thereon for controlling the motor 25 through electrical wiring (not shown). 7 V a In operation, the motor 25 is energized to eitect rotation of the screw rods 31 and 32 ina direction to move the head carriage 12 and the tail carriage 14 equidistantly in opposite directions with nut 24- being locked against rotation. A beam B of a given width is centered on the cradle 39, and the motor is now energized to move the head and tail carriages towards each other while the ends of the beam are guided for support by the beam supporting means 15 in the positions shown in FIGS. 5 and to line up the beam with the Warp sheet. That is, manual operation is used in order to oil-set one carriage with respect to the other so that, when the motor 25 is used again for effecting symmetrical movement of the carriages to bring them back together, the middle of the beam will have shifted one-half the amount the manual adjustment was set to.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved arrangement for adjusting the beam supports of warp preparing apparatus and for chucking and unchucking the beam. This arrangement is simple and practical and can withstand such usageto which it may normally be subjected without repair or replacement of parts.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the head or take-up end or section of a slasher or the like, it is contemplated that at least certain features of the present invention can be applied'to the unwinding or let-oif end or section of such apparatus.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In warp preparing apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced apart frame members, slide means mounted on and between said frame members, a head carriage and a tail carriage slidably mounted on said slide means and each having means for rotatably supporting one end of a beam, power driven means for said head carriage for effecting rotation of said head carriage I beam supporting means, and power driven mechanism for moving said carriages simultaneously towards each other and for moving said carriages simultaneously away from each other to vary and maintain the distance therebetween, whereby said carriages can accommodate beams of various lengths.

riages each cooperating with one of said threaded end portions to cause said rod means to effect movement of said carriages upon rotation of said rod means, and means for effecting rotation of said rod means.

3. In apparatus according to claim 2, including means for rotatably mounting the tail carriage nut on saidtail carriage, means for efie'cting rotation of said tail carriage nut to move said tail carriage with respect to said rod'meansindependently of movement of said head carriage, and releasable means for preventing rotation of said tail carriage nut.

4. In apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power driven means for said head carriage includes a rotatable drive shaft parallel to said slide means, a driven element rotatably mounted on said head carriage, and interengaging means on said drive shaft and said driving element for causing said drive shaft to effect rotation of said element and to permit sliding movement of said element on said shaft upon slidable movement of said head carriage on said slide means.

5. In warp preparing apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced apart frame members, a pair of spaced apart horizontally extending slide rods mounted on and between said frame members, a head carriage and a tail carriage slidably mounted on said rods and each having means for rotatably supporting one end of a beam, power driven means for said head carriage for effecting rotation of said head carriage beam supporting means, bracket means secured to said slide rod at about the middle thereof, horizontal rod means journalled for rotation in said bracket means and extending laterally to about said frame members, said rod means having right hand threads at one end portion thereof and having left hand threads at the other end portion thereof, a nut on each of said carriages each cooperating with one of said threaded end portions to cause said rod means upon rotation thereof to effect lateral movement of said carriages in opposite directions to vary and maintain the distance therebetween for accommodating beams of various lengths, and power driven means for effecting rotation of said rod means.

6. In apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said bracket means include a pair of spaced apart bracket members, and said rod means include a pair of rod -members and sleeve between said bracket members for coupling said rod members for rotation with each other.

7. In apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said power driven means for said rod means include a motor mounted on one of said slide rods adjacent said bracket means, and an element secured to said rod means driven by said motor to effect rotation of said rod means.

8. In apparatus according to claim 5, including means for rotatably mounting the tail carriage nut on said tail carriage, means for effecting rotation of said tail carriage nut to move said tail carriage laterally on said rod means independently of said head carriage, and releasable means for locking said tail carriage nut against rotation thereof.

9. In apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for effecting rotation of said tail carriage nut includes a driven element on said tail carriage nut, means for driving said driven element including a drive element rotatably mounted on said tail carriage, and a crank for manually effecting rotation of said drive element.

10. In apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said 7 releasable locking means comprise an element mounted for rotation with said drive element, a manually operable movable element mounted on said tail carriage, and cooperating latch and detent means on said two last men tioned elements.

11. In apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said power driven means for said head carriage includes a horizontal rotatable drive shaft, a driven element mounted for rotation with said head carriage beam supporting means, means for driving said driven element including a driving element mounted for rotation on said head carriage, and inter-engaging means on said drive shaft and said driving element for causing said drive shaft to effect rotation of said driving element and to permit sliding movement of said driving element on said drive shaft upon lateral movement of said head carriage on said slide rods.

12. In apparatus according to claim 11, whereinsaid inter-engaging means include an elongate axially extending slot on said drive shaft, and a key rotatable with said driving element and slidably disposed in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Freeze Dec. 13, 1960 

1. IN WARP PREPARING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION OF A PAIR OF SPACED APART FRAME MEMBERS, SLIDE MEANS MOUNTED ON AND BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS, SLIDE MEANS CARRIAGE AND A TAIL CARRIAGE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLIDE MEANS AND EACH HAVING MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING ONE END OF A BEAM, POWER DRIVEN MEANS FOR SAID HEAD CARRIAGE FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF SAID HEAD CARRIAGE BEAM SUPPORTING MEANS, AND POWER DRIVEN MECHANISM FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGES SIMULTANEOUSLY TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGES SIMULTANEOUSLY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO VARY AND MAINTAIN THE DISTANCE THEREBETWEEN, WHEREBY SAID CARRIAGES CAN ACCOMMODATE BEAMS OF VARIOUS LENGTHS. 